Silvio d aloisio



S. DALOISIO.

PEDAL DRIVEN SWIMMING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION mmwuzza. 1919.

1,320,190. Patented Oct. 28,1919.

WITNESS: 22 4 I I N VEN TOR.

A TTORNE Y.

After Fig. 1.

SILVIO DALOISIO, OF WINLDBER, PENNSYLVANIA.

PEDAL-DRIVEN swr IiMINe APfAiEtATUS.

Specification of Letters IPatent. Patented Oct. 28, 191$).

Application filed June 23, 1919. Serial No. 306,032.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SILVIO nALoIsIo, acitizen of the United States, residing at VVindber, in the county of Somerset and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pedal-Driven Swimming Apparatus, of which the following is a specification. V 1

This invention comprehends the provision of a swimming device, which may be used for sporting purposes, or in the capacity of a life saving apparatus.

The invention embodies among other features, a frame provided with floats affording the frame the required buoyancy to support the body of the user adj acentthe surface of the water, and a foot actuated propeller for driving the device forward.

In carrying out my invention I also provide a construction of means for steering the device.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the following detail description is taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts as claimed.

Inthe drawing forming part of this specification like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views and wherein Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-8 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4: is a similar view taken on the line The deviceforming the subject matter of my invention, essentially embodies a frame including a board or plank 10 of any suitable length, and cross arms 11 and 12 respectively.

The extremities of each cross arm are provided with floats 18 which afiord the frame the required buoyancy for maintaining the body of the user adjacent the surface of the water. A metallic-strip 14: is terminally secured to one end of the board or plank 10, while the opposite end of said metallic strip constitutes a bearing for the propeller shaft 16, the propeller proper being indicated at 17. The intermediate portion of the strip 14: is offset as at 18 to accommodate a gear 19 fixed upon the shaft 20 which is passed through the offset portion of said strip. The shaft 20 is provided with pedals 21 for rotating-the latter and the gear 19, while a relatively small beveled gear 22 meshes with the gear 19 and actuates the propeller 17. The structure is also strengthened by means of braces 23. In practice, the user lies upon the board or plank 10 with his feet engaging the pedals, and through the instrumentality of which the shaft 20 is rotated, thus rotating the gear 19. As the small gear 22 carried by the propeller shaft 16 meshes with the gear 19, it is manifest that the propeller is operated to drive the device forward. The float 13 supports the frame and the body of the user adjacent the surface of the water and by reason of this fact, the device is very useful as a life saving apparatus. In case of trouble or fatigue ofthe operator, the device will float upon the water.

With a view of steering the device, the

cross arm 11 is pivotally connected with the adjacent end of the board or plank 10, and is provided with a rudder 24. Obviously the cross arm 11 may be swung laterally in either direction for steering the device, it being understood that when the operator lies upon the plank or board 10 he takes hold of the cross bar 11. The device is simple in construction and yet very efficient for the purpose intended.

While I have shown and described what I consider the preferred embodiment of the invention, I desire to have it understood that I do not limit myself in this connection, in that such changes may be resorted to when desired as fall within the scope of what is claimed.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is A device of the class described, a plank, a metallic strip terminally connected with one end of the plank and having an intermediate offset portion, a shaft journaled on said strip, said strip being formed to provide a bearing a second shaft journaled in said bearing, bevel gears carried by the respective shafts and meshing with each other, a cross arm supported in said strip, a propeller carried by the second mentioned shaft, pedals actuating the first mentioned shaft and said propeller, an arm pivoted at the forward end of the plank for lateral movement, floats carried by both of said cross arms, and a rudder carried by the cross arm 10 Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. O." 

